Imaging systems with improved thread life

Abstract

Systems, methods, and devices are provided that facilitate reducing wear of threads of a camera head of an imaging system (e.g., a borescope), thereby increasing the lifespan of an imaging system. In some embodiments, an imaging system is provided that includes a camera head made of anodized TiAl6V4 and coated with a solid film lubricant. The imaging system can also include a probe tip made of 303 stainless steel and coated with a diamond-line carbon coating. By using a camera head made of anodized TiAl6V4 and coated with a SFL in combination with a probe tip made of 303 SS and coated with a DLC, wear on threads of the camera head can be reduced, thereby increasing the lifespan of the imaging system.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An imaging apparatus, comprising:
 a housing with an elongate body extending distally therefrom, the elongate body including a camera head at a distal end thereof with a camera therein configured to obtain images, the camera head including threads;   at least one probe tip with threads configured to threadably mate with threads on the camera head for removably mating the probe tip to the camera head; and   a diamond-like carbon coating on the threads of the probe tip.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a solid film lubricant coating on the threads of the camera head. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the solid film lubricant coating comprises a heat cured, resin bonded solid film lubricant coating. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the solid film lubricant coating comprises Slickote® DL100. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein a body of the camera head is at least partially coated with a solid film lubricant. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the threads of the camera head are formed from anodized titanium alloy. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of claim Error! Reference source not found, wherein the anodized titanium alloy comprises TiAl 6 V 4 . 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the diamond-like carbon coating comprises a metal-containing coating. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the diamond-like carbon coating comprises Titankote™ C12. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the diamond-like carbon coating has a thickness in a range of about 1 μm to 5 μm. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein a body of the probe tip is at least partially coated with a diamond-like carbon coating. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the threads of the probe tip are formed from stainless steel. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the stainless steel comprises 303 stainless steel. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the threads of the camera head are formed from anodized titanium alloy, and wherein the threads of the probe tip are formed from stainless steel, and further comprising a solid film lubricant coating on the threads of the camera head. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the threads of the camera head are formed on an external surface of the camera head, and the threads of the probe tip are formed within a lumen in the probe tip, and wherein the lumen in the probe tip is configured to receive at least a portion of the camera head therein. 
     
     
         16 . An imaging system, comprising:
 a housing with an elongate body extending distally therefrom with a camera head at a distal end thereof, the camera head including an imaging device configured to acquire images and to transmit data characterizing the images, and the housing including a controller configured to control operation of the imaging device; and   at least one probe tip detachably mateable to the camera head;   wherein the camera head has anodized titanium alloy threads that engage corresponding stainless steel threads on the probe tip, and wherein threads on the camera head are coated with a solid film lubricant coating and the threads on the probe tip are coated with a diamond-like carbon coating.   
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the anodized titanium alloy threads are formed from a titanium alloy that includes titanium, aluminum, and vanadium. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the stainless steel threads comprise 303 stainless steel. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the diamond-like carbon coating comprises Titankote™ C12. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the solid film lubricant coating comprises Slickote® DL100.